Melvin on Reyes, other shortstops

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin just revealed what caused all of the buzz linking his club to free agent shortstop Jose Reyes:

“One phone call,” Melvin said on Monday. “No numbers.”

Asked whether they would be more phone calls, or perhaps a face-to-face meeting between Melvin and agent Peter Greenberg during this week’s GM Meetings in Milwaukee, Melvin said he had not decided.

You can expect the Brewers to be linked to shortstops all week considering their need at the position. Melvin had lunch on Monday with Paul Kinzer, who represents shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Aramis Ramirez, both of whom could theoretically interest Milwaukee. Melvin has also been in contact with Jaime Torres, who represents Yuniesky Betancourt, the free-swinger who became a free agent last month when the Brewers declined his $2 million option.

Betancourt is “very interested” in returning, according to Melvin, and the Brewers have interest in bringing him back if the price is right but told Torres they want to explore all of the options first. Had the club exercised Betancourt’s option, he would have earned $6 million in 2012. It will be interesting to see whether Betancourt seeks a multi-year deal after veteran infielders Jamey Carroll (Twins) and Mark Ellis (Dodgers) signed two-year contracts in recent days.

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